Wednesday, July 6, 2011

07/06/2011
The Supreme Court (SC) ruling that upheld the revocation of the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) plan that gave Hacienda Luisita farmers shares of stock in Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) in lieu of land ownership in the Aquino-Cojuangco sugar estate merely brought the farmers’ decades-old fight for what they believe to be theirs -- by virtue of the sale contract between the Cojuangcos and Tabacalera decades ago stipulating that the farmers would be granted land --- is back to where it was during Corazon Aquino’s time as president of the republic.

Ironically, this SDO issue crops up again, at a time when Cory’s son is now in Malacañang and once again, the farmers are going to be shortchanged — the third time over.

The first time was when the Cojuangco family reneged on the condition of the sugarland sale. The second time was during Cory’s time, when she circumvented the CARP law by coming with that SDO scheme with an election where it was reported, had the military looking over the farmer-electorate voting ways.

The third time is the SC’s decision in having yet another polling exercise for farmers to again go into the SDO scheme..... MORE

07/06/2011
From all indications, it certainly seems that Noynoy’s sole mission in his presidential life is to “develop” cases against his predecessor, with the “success” of this mission as his “greatest achievement,” while the more important aspects of the presidency and governance are being brushed aside.

And he seems so proud of the fact that it is on his orders that cases against Gloria Arroyo are now being “developed” by the executive branch.

Noynoy’s term of “developed” in the context of cases of graft and possibly plunder against Gloria is interesting, because it indicates that he and his aides are scrounging around to dig up more dirt left by his predecessor. This in turn translates to his not having at this time, the goods with which to make a case against her but that he will do everything to ensure that Gloria gets charged, which could also mean coming with cases that may have no solid evidence to back them..... MORE

07/06/2011
BANGKOK — Thailand’s hopes of emerging from years of political turmoil hinge on how a victorious opposition wields its new-found power, including a possible amnesty for its fugitive leader, experts say.

After overseeing a landslide victory by his Puea Thai party from self-imposed exile, Thailand’s controversial former leader Thaksin Shinawatra is widely expected to pull the strings in the new government.

It marks a dazzling comeback for the Thaksin camp five years after the nemesis of the Thai establishment was ousted by the army, with his sister Yingluck now set to become the nation’s first female prime minister.

Yet hasty attempts to bring him back as a free man would likely rattle his powerful enemies and threaten his sister’s tenure, as well as the stability of the kingdom, which is deeply split between his supporters and enemies..... MORE

07/06/2011
Let’s be very clear about things. It is not true that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio did not even feel sorry for losing her temper and castigated then punched court sheriff Abe Andres in full view of the cameras for not giving in to her request to stay the court ordered demolition. She said she blew her top as she was already neck deep in responding to the needs of the flood victims in another part of the city and she just could not understand why the sheriff had to proceed with the demolition when all she asked was two hours to ensure that no violence erupted when the crews moved in. She did not object to the demolition; she was trying to ease things knowing as she did that there was resistance to it which if not properly handled could erupt into violence. Which it did before she got into the scene. And, then, after saying all those things about the courts, i.e., the withdrawal of assistance, allowances, and the like, in the heat of the moment, she got back and said she offered to take care of Andres’ hospitalization and advised one and all that she was ready to face the consequences of her actions..... MORE

Despite the frequent breast-beating of President Aquino about what he claimed as numerous anomalies that took place during the term of his predecessor President Arroyo, a senator noticed yesterday the slow pace that his administration is taking to do something about such allegations or to “walk the talk” so to speak.

But even as he aired his displeasure on the Aquino administration, Cayetano is urging Malacañang to conduct a parallel probe into the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds which the two Houses of Congress are now poised to investigate.... MORE

Except perhaps for the devastation caused by typhoons that regularly visit the Philippines, especially at this time of the year, the rest of the country’s problems — past and present — are all caused by former President Arroyo in the eyes of President Aquino as he blamed her again, this time for causing the diplomatic row between the Philippines and China.

In his speech during the 113th Anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Aquino singled out the Arroyo administration as being responsible for aggravating the disagreement between China and the
Philippines in relation to each country’s claims in the Spratlys group of Islands.

Aquino accused Arroyo of approving the inclusion of Manila-claimed territories, such as the Reed Bank near Palawan, in a joint oil exploration in 2005 between the Philippines and rival claimants China and Vietnam..... MORE

By Gerry Baldo 07/06/2011
The Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) should act on the beating incident involving Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said sanctions should be meted to Duterte-Carpio even if court Sheriff Abe Andres decided not to press for charges because it will set a precedent.

Two more children have died after a third landslide hit in Valencia City, Bukidnon, bringing to seven the death toll from the disaster spawned by continuous heavy rains in the province for several days now.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos confirmed that the third landslide that struck in Barangay Tongan Tongan buried two children, whose identities were not immediately available.

Last Monday, two landslides hit Barangay Lumbayao also in Valencia City killing at least five people while several others remained missing..... MORE

07/06/2011
Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been ordered to tightly screen Filipino tourists bound for Bahrain following reports that many of them ended up becoming undocumented contract workers in the Middle East country.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. issued the order after the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain alerted the bureau about the practice of many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who travel to the kingdom on visitor’s visas but later convert them to work visas once they find an employer.

At the same time, David assured Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin, Philippine ambassador to Bahrain, that airport immigration officers are continuously exercising vigilance and thoroughly screening Filipino tourists bound for Bahrain and other countries known to be favored destination of OFWs..... MORE

Two members of the Board of Nursing of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) were found guilty of leaking the questionnaires for the board exams in 2006, the Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday.
Ordered dismissed from the service were Anesia Buenafe-Dionisio and Virginia Diolola-Madeja, acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro said. Dionisio was assigned to Psychiatric Nursing while Madeja was examiner in Medical Surgery Nursing.

In the 32-page decision, the anti-graft office established that majority of Dionisio’s test questions had reached the reviewees of the RA Gapuz Review Center in Baguio City and Institute for Review and Special Studies in Manila..... MORE